Like an archer an arrow,
the wise man steadies his trembling mind,
a fickle and restless weapon.
Flapping like a fish thrown on dry ground,
it trembles all day, struggling
to escape from the snares of Mara the temptress.
The mind is restless. To control it is good.
A disciplined mind is the road to Nirvana.
Look to your mind, wise man;
look to it well - it is subtle, invisible, treacherous.
A disciplined mind is the road to Nirvana.
Swift, single, nebulous,
it sits in the cave of the heart.
Who conquers it, frees himself from the slavery of death.
No point calling him wise
whose mind is unsteady,
who is not serene,
who does not know the Dhamma.
Call him wise whose mind is calm,
whose senses are controlled,
who is unaffected by good and evil,
who is wakeful.
He knows the body for what it is,
a frail jar;
he makes his mind firm
like a fortress.
He attacks Mara with
the weapon of wisdom,
he guards what he conquers
jealously.
It is not long before the body,
bereft of breath and feeling,
lies on the ground, poor thing,
like a burnt-out faggot.
No hate can hurt, no foe can harm,
as hurts and harms a mind ill disciplined.
Neither father, mother, nor relative can help
as helps a mind that is well disciplined.
There’s a quiet beauty to this remix album of compositions by Michael Vincent Waller, with contributions from JLin, Prefuse 73, & more. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 1, 2024
Somber, beautiful string meditations abound on the debut album by Oxford cellist and composer Lou Lyne and her ensemble. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2024
Comprising 32 takes on iconic Robert Schumann compositions, the emergent pianist's Pentatone debut is a must-hear for classical fans. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2024